Electrical protective system



Oct. 13, 1936. q, DQWELL 2,057,138

ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed March 15, 1933 Chesi'er JmdD auzellWWW Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALPROTECTIVE SYSTEM Chester M. Dowell, Huntingburg, Ind.

Application March 15, 1933, Serial No. 660,961

10 Claims. (Cl. 177-314) This invention relates to an electricalprotective system and more particularly to one adapted for applicationto the handle of an automobile door.

The purpose of the system is to afford protection to the occupants ofthe automobile against invasion from the outside by unauthorized orundesirable persons. Occasion for the use of the system is particularlypresented when the sole occupants of an automobile are Women or childrenwho would otherwise be unprotected. It is well known that automobilesare exposed to attack by nefarious persons at congested centers or attraffic lights where the automobile is compelled to come to a completestop.

An object of this invention is to provide a system which will give anelectric shock to any person attempting to open the door by grasping thehandle, when the system is charged.

Another object is to provide a spark gap at which an audible sound willbe produced when the device is in operation.

Another object is the provision of a detachable grip for the doorhandle, carrying an insulated element which may be electrically charged.

Another object is the provision of an electrical conductor connected tothe handle grip which does not interfere with the normal movement of thehandle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of connecting means forthe system which will not interfere with the opening of the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of manuallycontrollable means for instantly putting the system into or out ofoperation.

Other objects will appear from the following description considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a partly diagrammatic representation of a preferredembodiment of the invention with the grip partly broken away, and insection.

Fig. 2 is a. modification providing a spark gap.

The handle 5 is operatively connected to the latch device (not shown)which holds the door 6 in closed position with respect to the frame I.Engaging with the handle 5 is a detachable grip, which, as here shown,comprises a tubular member 8 preferably made of a yieldable materialhaving electrical insulating properties, such as rubber. The bore of thetubular member 8 may be made somewhat smaller than the usual size of thehandle, so that when drawn onto the handle a tight frictional engagementwill be established.

, Since the member is made of yieldable material,

it will adapt itself to the size and shape of the particular handle towhich it is applied. As shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the handle remainsexposed.

Carried upon the exterior of the tubular member 8 is an electricalconducting element [0. It is desirable that this be of woven wire ormetallic mesh construction so that it will be flexible and will conformto the shape assumed by the tubular member when in position on a handle.The conducting element I6 is held against axial movement from thetubular member 8 by the annular flanges 9 at the ends of the member 8.

Connected to the element It) is a flexible conductor ll of any suitablecharacter. As here shown, this conductor is a metallic chain, the endlink being hooked directly onto one of the loops of the mesh element [0.The chain II is freely hung between the handle and a contact I2supported on an insulating block I3 carried by the door, the loosenessof the chain permitting movement of the handle in opening the door andalso removal of the grip from the handle when desired, when the handleis turned downwardly.

A second Contact I4 is mounted on an insulating block I5 carried by thedoor frame, in such position that it will be engaged by the contact [2when the door is in closed position. Although these contacts, forpurposes of illustrating the invention, are shown mounted on theexterior of the door and frame, it is apparent that they may be mountedon the inside so as to conceal them. The purpose of this arrangement ofthe contacts is to provide an electrical connection which will 7 notinterfere with the opening of the door. 5

The transformer indicated by Hi may be any form of the known electricaldevice which is capable of transforming a low tension current into ahigh tension output current, and commonly called a spark coil. One ofthe high tension terminals I1 is connected to the Contact M by the wireI 9, the other terminal I! being .grounded as shown at la.

The low tension terminals 20 are connected by Wires 2! and 22 to asource of low tension current as the battery 23. It is desirable thatthe wire 2| be extended to a point within ready reach of the operator asthe dash of the automobile, and be broken to include in the circuit aswitch 24. By this means the operation of the protective system is underinstant manual control.

When the switch 24 is closed, the high tension current from thetransformer charges the mesh element Ill and a person attempting to openthe door by grasping the handle will receive a strong electric shock,thus repelling him. In grasping the handle, the intruder willnecessarily bring his hand into contact with the mesh [0 and against, orclose to, the exposed portions of the handle 5, thereby bringing himselfin the system to complete the circuit to the ground at Hi. The presenceof the insulator 8 prevents a short circuit, or leakage, of the hightension current between the mesh II! and the handle 5 and the hand whichconnects these parts will receive the full effect of the shock. Theconvenient location of the switch 24 permits the operator to disconnectthe system and allow an authorized person to manipulate the handlewithout danger of receiv ing a shock.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with a single door,it is apparent that it may be applied to all the doors of an automobileto provide complete protection against invasion. It will be furtherunderstood that the grip, which has been shown as detachable, could aswell be made integrally with the door handle at the time of manufacture,and this modification is intended to be within the scope of the appendedclaims.

The wiring which is here shown as exposed, may be installed in andconcealed by the door, and electrical connection between the door andthe frame may be made at any desired place, as at a point along thehinged side of the door.

It is desirable that the controlling switch 24 be of the ordinary pushbutton type which requires constant manual pressure to establish aconnection. In this manner the device would be operative only when theswitch is pressed by the occupants of the car and when the hand isremoved from the switch, the switch immediately opens. There isconsequently no danger of an innocent person getting a shock as nodependence is placed upon the occupants of the car to move the switch tobreak the circuit.

It is intended that the spark coil l6 be of the type provided with avibrator so that a series of sparks will be delivered when the switch 24is closed. When such a coil is operating, the vibrator makes a buzzingsound which will notify the operator that the system is functioningproperly. In installations using a switch which must be positively movedto both the off and on position, the continuous buzzing sound of thespark coil when in operation serves as a reminder to the operator thatthe switch is on. If an innocent person is seen approaching the car, thebuzzing sound notifies the car occupant to turn the system off.

As an additional provision to give a more pronounced audible sound aspark gap may be provided in the high tension circuit, at which asnapping sound will be produced by the jumping of a spark. This wouldgive a sufficient warning that the device was in operation, or that thecurrent was still on and would prompt the occupants of the car to throwoil the switch. It would also give a warning to a would-be assailantthat the car is charged and should not be interfered with.

A suitable place for this spark gap is between the contacts l4 and [2 asshown in the modification in Fig. 2. The contact l2 may be adjustablewith respect to the contact [4 to leave a suitable gap between themacross which the high tension current will easily jump. Even if somemethod were used other than this connection at the door rail, such asthe concealment of the high tension wire within the door of the car, thegap could be provided between the chain and the insulated block, orbetween the chain and the car handle, and at which would be produced thesparking sound upon the passage of the high tension current.

I claim:

1. An electrical protective system for a door handle of an automobilecomprising a detachable grip for said handle, said grip including aflexible tubular member of insulating material receiving the handletherein and having an annular flange at each end, and a sleeve ofelectrical conducting material loosely carried on the exterior of theinsulating material between said annular flanges, said flanges retainingthe sleeve of conducting material in position and means for supplyinghigh potential difference between said conducting material and thehandle, said conducting material being insulated from the handle by saidtubular member.

2. An electrical protective system for a door handle of an automobilecomprising a detachable grip for said handle, said grip including atubu-' lar member of flexible stretchable rubber which will tightlyreceive. andadapt itself to the contour of handles, of different sizesand shapes and a sleeve of yieldable electrical conducting material onthe exterior of the tubular member, said conducting element being meshedto be capable of circumferential extension to conform to the shapeassumed by the tubular member, and means for establishing a highpotential difference between said conducting material and the handle,said conducting material being insulated from the handle by said tubularmember.

3. An electrical protectivesystem for a door handle of an automobilecomprising a detachable grip for attachment to said handle, said gripcarrying an exposed electrical conducting element, insulating meansbetween said element and the handle, a source of high tension currentfor establishing a high potential difference between the.

handle and said element, and conducting means between said source ofcurrent and said element and handle and including a flexible connectorhaving one end connected to the element to permit movement of thehandle, said flexible connector extending free of the handle to permitdetach ment of the grip and also serving to suspend the grip apart fromthe handle where detached.

4. In combination in an electrical protective system for a grounded doorhandle of an automobile, a grip for attachment to said handle,comprising an electrical conducting element and insulating means betweensaid element and said han-' dle, a source of high tension current forsaid ele-' ment and spaced from said element, and conducting meansbetween said source of current and said element including a flexibleconnector permitting necessary mechanical movements of the handle, theother pole of said source of current being grounded.

5. In an electrical protective system for an automobile handle carriedby a door and having a grounded element and an insulated element to begrasped by an intruder, said door being supported in a frame, thecombination of a source of high tension current for said insulatedelement, and conducting means between one pole of said source of currentand said insulated element, the other pole being grounded, saidconducting means including a contact carried by the door and connectedto said insulated element, and a second contact carried by the frame toengage with the first contact whenthe door is in closed position.

said second contact being connected to the source of high tensioncurrent and said contacts carried separately by the door and framepermitting opening of the door without stressing of the conductingmeans.

6. In an electrical protective system for an automobile handle carriedby a door and having a grounded element and an insulated element to begrasped by an intruder, the combination of an electrical transformercapable of transforming a low tension current into a high tension outputcurrent, a source of low tension current connected to said transformer,said elements being connected to the high tension output of thetransformer, and a manually controllable device located within theinterior of the automobile in proximity to an occupant for closing orbreaking the connection between the source of low tension current andthe transformer.

7. In an electrical protective system, the combination with anautomobile door supported in a frame, of a handle carried by the doorfor releasing the door from the frame, said handle including twoelements insulated from each other and exposed to be both grasped by anintruder, a source of high tension current spaced apart from the door,and electrical connections between said elements and said source of hightension current including connecting means between the door and theframe permitting free movement of the door.

8. In an electrical protective system for automobile door handles, ahigh tension circuit comprising a handle, an element carried by thehandle and insulated therefrom, a source of high tension current forsaid element, conducting means between the source of current and thehandle, and conducting means between said source of current and saidelement to complete the circuit, said circuit having a gap across whichthe current must jump to produce an audible sound.

9. In an electrical protective system the combination with an automobiledoor supported in a frame, said door having a grounded handle, of anelement carried by the handle and insulated therefrom, said elementbeing adapted to be charged with a high tension current, a source ofhigh tension current spaced apart from said door and having one polegrounded, and an electrical connection between said element and theother pole of said source of high tension current including a pair ofcontacts carried separately by the door and by the frame, said contactsforming a spark gap between them when the door is in closed position, atwhich gap an audible sound will be produced by the jumping of a spark.

10. An electrical protective system for a door handle of an automobilecomprising a handle grounded to the automobile, insulating means carriedby the handle and leaving exposed a portion of the handle, an electricconducting element carried by said insulating means and insulatedthereby from the handle, and a source of high tension current having onepole thereof grounded to the automobile and having its other poleconnected to said element, the proximity to each other of said elementand exposed portion of the grounded handle providing contact points inthe high tension circuit to be connected by an intruders hand.

CHESTER M. DOWELL.

